Political science concentration offers opportunities for learning in a number of different areas. Students completing the program of study will be prepared for jobs in government, private corporations, and nonprofit organizations as well as for more advanced study in law, business, or graduate school.
The undergraduate concentration is organized around four broad tracks, or programs of study: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.
Students interested in graduating with a degree in political science need to complete the following requirements:
1. Twelve courses overall: Ten within the Department of Political Science and two from areas outside the department related to your chosen track. Thirteen courses are required if the methods requirement is fulfilled with a course outside the department.
2. Two introductory courses from the following group: PS 1, 10, 11, 20 or 40 (POLS 10, 100, 110, 200 or 400). One of which must be the introductory course associated with chosen track.
3. One course in each of the four traditional subfields: Political Theory, International Relations, American/Public Policy, and Comparative Politics.
4. Three courses, beyond the introductory course, in the chosen subfield.
5. One methods course from Political Science (PS 160 or PS 120 (POLS 1600 or 1200)) or comparable course from an outside department (EC 162, EC 163, AM 65 or SO 110 (ECON 1620, 1630 APMA 650 or SOC 1100)). If the methods requirement is fulfilled by an outside department course, it will not count as one of the 12 required courses. Candidates for Honors are required to take a Political Science methods course.
6. One research seminar from the PS 182 (POLS 1820) offerings
7. Two courses from outside the department related to the specialized track, chosen with the approval of the concentration advisor. Appropriate 100-level (1000-level) courses offered in (but not limited to) Africana Studies, American Civilization, Anthropology, Classics, Economics, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies or Sociology may apply. The concentration advisor may approve a course from another department if it clearly meets the intent of the outside course requirement.
To obtain an advisor, contact the concentration coordinator, Patti Gardner.
Students wishing to undertake the honors program need to complete the same requirements as shown for the concentration. PS50 or PS160 (POLS 500 or 1600) is required prior to applying to the Honors program. Students must also complete an honors research project and take PS 191 and PS 192 (POLS 1910 and 1920) as part of their 12 courses.
Page last updated in April, 2007.